Bharatpur City Travel
Bharatpur is well-known for it world heritage listed bird sanctuary Keoladeo
Ghanna National Park. This is one of the few places in the world where you can
hope to sight hundred of different species of birds in just a few days. Over
400 species different birds have been identified in the park and you see them
all over the place.
Many tourists travelling to this destination have rate it as the highlight of
their visit. It is just 55 kilometres from Agra and 176 kilometres from Jaipur.
The history of Bharatpur goes back to the epic age of Mahabharta when the Matsya
kingdom flourished in the 5th century BC. Some archaeological remains of this
period can be seen in the Bharatpur Museum. The city is supposed to be named
after Bharat, the brother of Lord Rama. Bharatpur was the stronghold of the
Jats in the 17th and 18th century.
They maintained considerable autonomy though they were allied to the Mughals;
this was largely due to their prowess in the battle and their marriage alliances
with the Rajputs. Their fort in Bharatpur even withstood attacks from the British
in 1805 and 1825 but later they signed a treaty of friendship with the East
India Company. It merged with the union of India at independence.
Places to See
Keoladeo National Park
A paradise for the avian world, and the pilgrimage for the bird lovers, it was
known as the best duck shooting resort in the British empire. But was declared
a reserve for birds in 1956 and later upgraded to National Park. UNESCO has
listed it as a world heritage site. The geographical location is ideal as it
is on the main North-South avian route of India. Although small in size, 29
sq km. Only, it boasts to house more than 375 species of beautiful birds, and
more than 132 of them breed inside the Keoladeo Ghana National Park and nearly
every year new ones are added to the list.
The sanctuary not only attracts birds from India but also from places like Europe,
Siberia, China and Tibet Before monsoons hundreds of these exotic birds roost
and nest building activities start on the babool and kadam trees of the park.
Water coming through the Ajan Bandh starts filling the various ponds and lakes
of the Park.
When assured of enough food, hundreds of large, medium and little cormorant,
darter, purple and grey heron, various species of egret, painted, open-billed,
white necked and black necket stork, white ibis, spoonbill, night heron and
other birds get busy in courting and mating. The trees are overflooded with
nest, one can observe a tree housing nests upto fifties and sixties in number
belongign to different species of birds looking after theri loving young onces.
The nests on the trees look like pearl necklaces. Gracious Saras cranes, the
tallest flight birds nest in exposed and open area, both partners share the
duty of hatching, while changing incubaating duties, they come together, raise
their neck and give out shrill trumpetic calls in unison and at the same time
fan their feathers.
Excursion
Deeg
North of Bharatpur is this beautiful garden town, the gardens have been laid
with great care and precision, the sparkling foundtains and meticulous palaces
add to the beauty of this idyllic retreat of the princes of Bharatpur. The tourist
enjoy the charming settings of this agricultural town, along with the well preserved
palace pavilions and gardens.
Gopal Bhavan
Completed in 1760 , an imaginatively designed building complex with beautifully
laid gardens at its entrance and the rear overlooks the Gopal Sagar which is
flanked with smaller pavillioins Sawan and Bhadon The formal gardens face a
raised terrace with an arch of lustrous marble installed on a padestal in the
form of swing. This exquisite swing is a war trophy brought in by the famous
Jat King Raja Suraj Mal from the Mughal court in Delhi The spacious and well
proportioned Banquet Hall ahs a double row of graceful pillars. The rear of
the chamber is further divided by a charming sunken pool with fountains. The
Banquet hall houses a rich collection of curious, souvenirs and Victorian furniture.
Staricases wind upstairs to the upper floors. One room contains a solid black
marble bed from Delhi.
How to Reach Bharatpur
Air:
Nearest airport Agra (54 kms) fromBharatpur, Agra has daily flights for Delhi,Bombay,Varanasi
(via Khajuraho) and Lucknow
Rail:
Bharatpur is on the main Delhi - Bombay line with regular connections to Mathura,
Sawai Madhopur and Kota on the same route. It is also connected with Agra
Road:
Bharatpur is well connected by road with Agra, Mathura, Delhi and Jaipur. Regular
bus services operate for all major cities.
Road distance to important places from Bharatpur : Agra 55 kms Fatehpur Sikri
22kms Mathura 39kms Delhi 184 kms Jaipur 176 kms Alwar 117 kms.
Copyright
© All India
Tours & Travels. All Rights Reserved
